Shoe form



yvze', 1936. J. F. CLARK ET'A SHOE FORM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. '14, 1954 Jazaaes 17030893, Edlvard 17. 0308 63",

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may 26, 1936- J. F. CLARK ET AL 7 2,941,695

SHOE FORM Filed Nov. 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIII III /IIIA Patented May 2 6 1936 "UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE James F. Clark and Edward '13. Clark,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1 Application November 14, 1934, Serial N 753,011

9 Claims. (01. 2 12s.1

This invention relates to a shoe form or tree for insertion into a shoe or other footwear to maintain the upper in a smooth distended condition for display or other purposes. The invention will best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings of certain specific embodiments thereof, while its scope will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

,In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a shoe tree exemplifying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the shoe tree shown in Figs. land 2 as it appears before the outer covering is applied;

- Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the shoe tree shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

, Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4;

i Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of the shoe tree showing a modification of the means for holding the tree covering snugly in place;

Fig.7 is a bottom plan of the shoe tree showing a second modification of the means for holding the covering in place; V

r Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modification in which there is provided a member secured to the rear upper portion of the body of the shoe tree and extending rearwardly therefrom;

and a q Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section of a full lengthshoe treeembodying. certain features of the invention. 1

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiments of the invention illustrated therein by way of example, and having reference at first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, there is shown a shoe tree comprising a body II] which has the general form of the interior of the forepart and a portion of the instep in'a shoe, said body in this example being open atthe bottom and rear. The bodymay be made of wood, light metal such as aluminum, cast or stamped, or of pressed or molded material such as fiber or various resinous materials, synthetic and otherwise. One suitable resinous material is a comparatively recent product known as tenite; s

The body is provided with a recess l2 about at least a portion thereof where'it is adjacent the shoe upper, and in this example this recess occupies the toe and vamp portion. Within this re'-= ber, which is well adapted to'the purpose because it is capable of yielding locally when subjected to local pressure without being distorted or expanded at other points. The outer surface of the cushion is continuous or flush with the outer sur-,

face of the body so-as to present a smooth'contour. In this example the cushion I4 is supplemented by another cushion l 6, also of sponge rub-- ions are held under compression and cooperate to hold the upper of the shoe in smoothly distended condition. While the cushion IS in the present example is shown separate from the cushion I4, a construction which can be manufactured very conveniently, they need not necessarily be formed separately, and the portion I6 of the cushion need not necessarily extend beneath the margin of the body I0 so long. as it extends below the bottom of tht latter. V

In each of the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, there is ap plied to the entire shoe tree a covering l8 of appropriate flexible sheet material, herein an elastic textile material, conveniently a portion of a stocking or sock. This is suitably cut and sewed together at the rear of the tree in any appropriate fashion to present a smooth neat appearance, and it isstretched on the inside of the body It] so as to conform as closely as possible to the internal shape of the latter. However, to insure a snug fit, in the example shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, there is provided a strip 20 of appropriate flexible and herein resilient material such as celluloid anchored at its ends as by screws 22, the arrangementbeing such that the intermediate portion, of this strip draws the central portion of the stocking material snugly against the body 10. Another way of accomplishing this result is by the use of one or more, herein several long strands of thread 24 (see Fig. v6) anchored at their ends in the stocking material as by sewing through the latter and stretching the strands tightly to cause the stocking material to be held snugly against the body. Another convenient means for'this purpose is illustrated in Fig. '7 and comprises a strip 26 of elastic webbingv having longitudinal strands 28 of rubber, and this strip is suitably secured in placeas by "screws 30 extending into the body.

; The form shown in Fig. 8 is similar in all respects except that it is comparatively short, and

ent to secure ture of a spring conveniently formed of appropriate material such as a wire or a strip which extends between the cushion l4 and the body I!) and is conveniently secured to the latter as by being bent downwardly at 34 and inserted into a hole 36 in the body. This strip extends from its point of attachment rearwardly, thence upwardly as at 38, and thence rearwardly, where it conforms en lyo he c rv tur f he instepv por o of the shoe upper to fprm; a supportfor-the latter, and in the present example it extends rearwardly and downwardly as at 40 for engagement with; the internal surface of the heel portion of the shoe, thereby to exert a forward pressure tending to keep the tree snugly in place irrtheforepart. of; the shoe. In other respects this form, of the in;-: vention may be, and in the present example is like that which is illustrated in Figs. r to 5 inclusive, except that it is not recessed to rec eive the cushion, but instead the latter extends to the rear end of the body;

Fig. 9- there isshow-n a shoe tree which is full length and comprises a body 4 2 provided with a recess which, asshown, extends entirely about the body to receive a cushion 46* of sponge rubber;

" of molded or castmaterial; such, for example, as

aluminum. H

Having thus described certain embodiments of the inventiQ but without limiting; ourselves thereto; what we claim and desire by LettersPat- 1. In a shoe form for insertion into a, shoe ,or othersimilar footweaathe combination ofya mem ber having; the genera-i form of the forward portion ofthe interiorof a shoe said, member being provided with a; recess extending forwardly from;

a position approximately-corresponding to, a shoe vamp throat line toward the toe, and a spongev rubber-cushion within saidrecess and conforming totheshapeofithefiexible portion of a shoeupper forward from approximately its vamp throat line, and said;me mber having a substantially non-compressible section for supporting flexible portions, of the shoe beyond its vamp throat line.

2 Ina shoe formfor insertion into a, shoe, or other similar footwear, thecombination of a body. having the general form of thefprepart ofthe interior 0? the shoe, said; body being hollow and; open atthe-bottomand rear a sponge rubber pad; disposed aboutat least aportion ofsaid body to contact with the interior of and to conform to, theshapeof the shoe upper; V a covering of flexible material about' saidbodyand; saidpad and; ex, tending in-to said bottom andrear, and-means,ex-. tendinglengthwise of and wit-hin said body Qhthe, outer surfaceof saiw covering to take up slap}; in, said: covering.

3; In a shoe form for insertion, into ashoe or, other similar footwear, thecombinat' ofjabody having the general form of theforep rt fthe;

i ior of he, sh e, s sil qd e n hol ow nd Open at. he boit mand a r a qn e r hberpadz n edehqutatleast a, QQfii lhOi aidvhodg to: niactw ththe nter or} o a d oe pni z a he ha e o he shoe u nena qver na a flex ble,

material about said body and said pad and extending into said bottom and rear, and a flexible member extending lengthwise of and within said body on the outer surface of said covering, said member being anchored adjacent its ends and being under stress to urge said covering toward said body.

4. In a shoe form for insertion into a shoe or other similar footwear, the combination of a body having; the general form of, the: forepart of the interior of the shoe, said body being hollow and open at the bottom and rear, a sponge rubber pad disposed about at least a portion of said body to contact with the interior of and to conform to the shape of the shoe upper, a covering of flexible material about said body and said pad and extending into said bottom and rear, and a resilient member extending lengthwise of and within said body on the outer surface of said covering, said member being anchored adjacent its ends and being tensioned tourge said covering toward said bgdy; V V

5 In a shoe-form forinsertion into-a shoe or other similar footwear, the combination of a bodyhaving the general' form of the forepart ofthe interior of the shoe, said bodybeing hollow and open at the bottom-and rear, a sponge rubber pad disposed about at least a portion of said body to. contact withtheinterior of and to conjacent itsends and; being under lengthwise tension to urge said covering toward said body.

6; A shoetree comprisinga core having an. upper surfacecontour-of the-general: shape ofthe foreepart ot a shoe upper and having on such surface a pad of cellular rubber extending for-- weirdly-v from a position approximatelycorresponding to ashoe vamp line toward: the toe, said pad having an upper surfacecontourconforming generally tor the contour of the flexible forepart. of? a shoe upperand: being compressible overlocal areas by portions of a shoeupper forwardly oi itsvamptline and: which do. not conform with the. pad? surfaces. without extruding the surface of otherportionsotthe pad, and a substantially HOIIr-COIIIDITBSSiblE- member conforming: generally to the desired contour of flexible portions of a shoe upper beyond the vamp line of: the shoe and; adjacent: to. the, portion supported by: the rubber pad.

A shoe tree comprising a body ofznon compressible material having at fore-part with anuppersurface contour of the general shape of the; fore-part: of a. shoeupper and; a, part projectingi upwardly from said: fore-part for :theen-- gagement; of; flexible portions of al shoe rearward -v ly; ot-ithevamp line thereof, saidfore-part havs. ingi thereon a pad, of cellular rubber extending forwardly from. a. position approximately: corresponding to a: shoe-vampline toward the-toe, said; pad: havingan upper surface contour conforming: generally-to the con-tourof theflexible fore-part of: ashoe upper.- and; being compressible over local areas by portions of a shoe upper which. d'o-not cpnform-Z with the pad; surface: without, extruding theslnffaoeaof other portions. of the pad, and said ieularlyextending. part having a; substantially: non-compressible surface andta; contour conform ins; enerally with the desired, contour of flexible-'- portions chi- 121 shoe upnen.

8. A shoe tree comprising a hollow shell with a downwardly opening fore-part and a rearwardly opening part angularly disposed relative to said fore-part, said fore-part having the general form of the interior of the fore-part of a shoe in front of the vamp line and said angular part having the general form of the upper of a shoe behind the vamp line, and a pad on the surface of said fore-part and extending forwardly from a position approximately corresponding to a shoe vamp line toward the toe, said pad being composed of cellular material compressible over local areas by portions of a shoe upper which do not conform with the pad surface without extruding the surface of other portions of the pad.

9. A shoe tree comprising a hollow shell with a downwardly opening fore-part and a rearwardly opening part angularly disposed relative to said fore-part, said fore-part having the general form of the interior of the fore-part of a shoe in front of the vamp line and said angular part having the general form of the upper of a shoe behind the vamp line, and a pad on the surface of said fore-part and extending forwardly from a position approximately corresponding to a shoe vamp line toward the toe, said pad being composed of cellular material compressible over local areas by portions of a shoe upper which .do not conform with the pad surface without extruding the surface of other portions of the pad, and a cushioning pad covering the lower edge of said fore-part of the shell.

JAMES F. CLARK.

EDWARD B. CLARK. 

